Lavrov: Iran’s Accession to Mecca Accord ‘Step in the Right Direction’

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Monday that Moscow would consider Iran’s accession to the “Mecca Accord”—an agreement involving Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia—a step in the right direction. Lavrov expressed his belief that Algeria’s potential interest in joining would also have a positive impact, and that if a mechanism is established for Iran’s participation, it would represent the most practical move towards the path Russia envisioned when developing its own proposals.

Lavrov asserted that Russia has no claims of primacy and that the initiative can be named as its participants see fit. He observed that trends are emerging, with people increasingly recognizing the need for mutual security as neighbors. He noted, however, that not everyone in the United States is prepared to support this trend, and Israel explicitly opposes it, believing that no positive developments will occur until Iran is subdued. Lavrov expressed confidence that the situation would improve over time.

The Russian Foreign Minister further stated that the United States is discouraging Russia’s close partners from engaging in trade with Moscow to funnel all economic opportunities toward itself. He predicted that the level of relations that existed between Russia and the West prior to February 2022 will never be restored. Lavrov described the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) as completely discredited, with its deterrent factors having lost their efficacy. While the formation of a Eurasian security architecture is not rapid, he anticipates a stable, secure, and long-term outcome.

Lavrov also highlighted that the diversification of Russia’s energy exports eastward is proceeding rapidly, asserting that Europe is harming itself by turning away from Russian energy. He concluded by stating that Russia does not object to the use of the US dollar in financial transactions but will prioritize its own interests if dollar usage becomes impractical.